Forging Strength

Three months had passed since enrolling into Zenith, and our endurance and strength had increased greatly. The once daunting training regimen had become a part of our daily rhythm, and we could keep up with the relentless pace without faltering. Though the training sessions were progressively becoming more intense, the instructors alternated between grueling exercises and lighter recovery days, ensuring our bodies could adapt without breaking down.

Over these past three months, I had grown closer to our little group—though Takeshi remained the exception. He still kept to himself, his focus seemingly unshakable. Despite our daily conversations in the cafeteria, I still didn't feel the deep bond necessary to truly call anyone my friend. But there was comfort in their presence, and for now, that was enough.

Today marked the final day of purely physical training. Starting tomorrow, we'd delve into the intricacies of our Regalia. While I'd practiced on my own a few times—spurred by Takeshi's unrelenting discipline—my progress had been limited to creating various objects and trying to understand my capabilities. It felt like scratching the surface of something vast and unknown.

"Good morning, recruits," Ms. Hawthorne's commanding voice cut through the morning air as she addressed us in the training field. "Today is your last day of physical training, and starting tomorrow, we will begin training your Regalia. Each of you will be assigned a mentor who will help you understand and refine your power. Mornings will remain dedicated to physical conditioning, but afternoons will focus entirely on honing your Regalia."

With that announcement, the day's training began. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation, though the exercises were as grueling as ever. By the end of the session, my body ached, but my thoughts raced ahead to the promise of what was to come.

Afterward, as I trudged back to the dorms to shower, a familiar voice rang out, cutting through my thoughts. "Hey, slowpoke! You excited or what?" Yukiko called, her tone brimming with confidence as she jogged up beside me, her ponytail swishing in time with her stride.

"About the Regalia training?" I asked, wiping sweat from my brow.

"Obviously!" she said, smirking as she gave me a light shove. "What else would I mean? It's the only thing worth talking about right now. You better not hold back, though. I want to see what you're really made of."

I chuckled, her enthusiasm hard to ignore. "Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I just want to get stronger."

"You're already strong," Yukiko said, her smirk turning into a sly grin. "Not as strong as me, obviously, but you've got potential. If you can keep up, we might even hit Elite Tier together."

"Elite Tier, huh?" I repeated, shaking my head with a smile. "I've got a long way to go before that happens."

Yukiko scoffed, her arms crossing as if offended. "Don't sell yourself short, Natsuya. You've already shocked everyone once, and honestly, I'm the only one who saw it coming. Guess I just have a good eye for talent."

I raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Weren't you the one who said I wasn't even worth putting on a show for?"

Her expression didn't falter. Instead, she leaned back with a smug grin. "Me? No, of course not. I don't remember saying anything like that. Pretty sure I've been rooting for you since day one."

"Uh-huh," I replied, unconvinced.

She laughed, a bright and unapologetic sound. "Look, Natsuya, just take the compliment and move on, okay?"

"Thanks, I think," I said, unsure how to handle the mix of confidence and subtle compliments.

She waved off my hesitation. "Don't overthink it. Just don't make me regret hyping you up. You're strong, but if you want to keep impressing me, you better step it up."

Her teasing tone lingered as she gave me a parting wave, jogging off toward the dorms. For some time now, Yukiko had been sparking these random short conversations with me. If I had to say, she was the closest person I could call a friend, even if her cocky demeanor often left me second-guessing her intentions.

• 

Finally, the day arrived when we were to be trained individually by our respective mentors in the same field where we had been training for months. Everyone's mentor was punctual, fit, and dressed in standard military attire. I couldn't help but notice that my mentor was the exception. Not only was he late, but he also appeared quite thin, with unkempt blonde hair, and wore casual clothes—completely unfit for training. Why was I the only one with such bad luck?

"Hey, kid, my name is Jasper," he said, finally showing up.

"Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Natsuya Kiyotaka," I replied, trying to mask my skepticism.

"Alright, Matsuda, what are we doing today?" he replied, getting my name wrong.

"Sir, you are to train me to use my Regalia, and my name is Natsuya," I corrected.

"You're the creation fella, right?" Jasper said, snapping his fingers as if he'd just remembered. "Alright, Matsuda, let me show you what I can do, and then you copy it."

He then created a sword that seemed to radiate raw power. The blade floated next to him, shimmering with an otherworldly sharpness. The air around it seemed to hum as it sliced through effortlessly. Suddenly, Jasper launched the sword at an incredible speed, faster than anything I had seen before. It flew straight into a tree, piercing straight through it as if it were a spear. We had been explicitly told not to destroy anything, but I guess for Jasper, that was more of a suggestion than a rule.

"Okay, now you do it," he instructed casually.

"Sir, my Regalia is creation. I don't think I can do that."

"Have you tried?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, but—"

"Then try it." With that, he gave me a satisfied smile and walked off, as if his job were already done.

I was left alone to practice a technique I wasn't even sure I could do. Despite my doubts, he had a point—I hadn't tried. So, I began creating swords and attempting to launch them. Time after time, the swords simply fell to the ground. Frustration mounted, but I shifted my focus. Instead of just creating and launching swords, I worked on making them sharper and more precise, trying to replicate Jasper's blade that had seemed to cut through the very air.

Meanwhile, everyone else trained with their mentors from start to finish, receiving pointers and guidance. I felt a pang of jealousy watching them. All I got was a demonstration and an assignment. It seemed like refining my abilities would be something I'd have to figure out on my own.

After evening training, our group headed to the cafeteria. The room buzzed with chatter as everyone shared their experiences, what they had learned, and what they were working on. The warm lighting and the smell of various foods made the cafeteria a cozy place to unwind after a long day.

"What did you learn, Natsuya? I noticed your mentor left really early on," asked Emily, her tone genuinely curious.

"My mentor didn't teach me anything! He gave me homework and left," I replied, trying to express my dissatisfaction without sounding too bitter.

"You should be happy, Natsuya," Yukiko interjected, her voice carrying its usual confident lilt.

"How so?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"You're being trained by none other than the elite-tier user Jasper Sterling. They say the only reason he doesn't move up to Ascendant Tier is his own laziness," she explained, her expression a mix of awe and amusement.

Everyone at the table froze, their expressions mirroring my shock. Whispers and murmurs spread quickly as they processed the information.

"An elite-tier user? Really?" Haruto asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Wow, that's incredible," Mei Ling added, her voice tinged with awe. "I think I've heard stories about him."

"Yeah, but what's the point if he doesn't actually train you?" Ryuji chimed in, his tone blunt.

I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. "I guess his nonchalant attitude makes sense now. But still, I wish he'd actually teach me something useful."

"Maybe he's trying to push you to discover your own potential," Akira suggested thoughtfully. "Sometimes, the best way to learn is through self-discovery."

"Or maybe he's just lazy," Daniel added with a chuckle, earning a few laughs.

"Either way, you should try to make the most of it," Sophia advised. "You've got a rare opportunity to learn from one of the best, even if he's unconventional."

I nodded, their words giving me some perspective. Despite my frustration, I realized they had a point. Jasper Sterling's reputation meant I had an exceptionally rare opportunity to learn from a top-tier Regalia user.

•

The next day, Jasper was late again. Resigned, I began practicing throwing blades like he had demonstrated. But, just as before, the swords were created mid-air and immediately fell. After some time, Jasper sauntered up, hands in his pockets, observing me with mild interest.

"Can't get it, huh?" he asked, his tone casual but with a hint of curiosity.

"No, sir. My Regalia is creation. I can't do what you can," I replied, frustration evident in my voice.

"Miyamoto, if your Regalia is creation, shouldn't you be able to create the energy to launch the swords?" he suggested. It also seemed my name changed every time we met.

"...." I was silent, taken aback by his suggestion. Truth be told, that had never occurred to me. Create my own force?

"You're too focused on the textbook definition of creation," Jasper explained. "Be creative. Try to create anything and everything. When you finally find out what you can't create, only then will you understand your limitations."

"But, sir, how do I even start with something like that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued but my mind clouded with doubt.

"I don't know. Figure it out," he said with a shrug. I had hoped for more guidance, but it seemed that wouldn't be the case.

Determined, I closed my eyes, focusing on the concept of energy. I visualized the force needed to propel the sword, imagining the power coursing through my body and into the blade. Slowly, I extended my hand, and a sword materialized mid-air. I concentrated, willing the energy to push it forward.

"Creation is only as boundless as your imagination," Jasper said, offering one last piece of advice before turning to leave.

The rest of the day, I continued practicing. Time after time, I failed. But I didn't give up. I began by visualizing atoms forming my desired weapon, then focusing on the forces surrounding the weapon and creating the energy to propel it forward. After hours of effort, something changed. This time, the sword didn't immediately fall. It hovered mid-air for a moment before wobbling and dropping to the ground.

"I can do this," I thought to myself, a spark of determination igniting within me.

For the first time, I truly believed my Regalia had the potential to be extraordinary. If Jasper was an elite-tier user who mastered his Regalia to launch weapons, then maybe I could achieve the same. Maybe even more. Aiko, when I come back, I'm going to be a completely different person. I can't wait to see your face then.

By the time I headed to dinner, I felt a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. Although I continued to fail, small moments of progress fueled my determination. I was taking steps forward, no matter how small they seemed.

• 

The next day, Jasper once again came for a few minutes, looked at my progress, and was about to leave before he stopped himself and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. I was told to inform you that your cohort will be participating in a tournament with last year's cohort two months from now. You will be forming cells of three, I think. And then facing other opponents. Anyways, keep working hard because they have way more experience." Afterwards informing me of the tournament, he simply waved his hand and walked off. 

Cells of three. I was definitely going to drag whoever was in my group down. This is bad. I need to improve fast.